The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1887-12-20
FOSTER LOCAL ENTERPRISES.

The proposed legislation on rail-
road freights in Washington territory
seems TO be having a very injurious
effect on local enterprises for develop
ment 1t is stated that the company
which has been going ahead with
bright prospects in the preparation
for a railroad from Ilwaco to Shoal-
water bay has entirely suspended all
operations until it is determined
whether the Sharpstein bill is to be-
come law. The situation IN the ter
ritory now is such that many short
lines of road, branches and feeders
are required to develop its great re-
sources. All such short lines are
more expensive IN proportion than the
long lines that command a large pas
senger travel and avoid the expense
of frequent handling of freight. Rates
that would be fair for the long roads
would be entirely inadequate for the
support of these short roads, and un-
less a higher charge for freight and
passengers on these short roads Is
allowed it will be impossible TO induce
anyone to put money into them. There
are several enterprises that we could
name that would feel the injurious
effects of the proposed legislation Sc
yerely. One that comes especially to
notice is the road above mentioned
from Ilwaco to the bay. Here Is q
case where residents and local capi-
talists have got together to prosecute
an enterprise that would develop the
section traversed and infuse new life
and prosperity into the country at
each end of the Toad, and place near
ly one hundred thousand dollars
worth of property in Pacific county.
Freight from Ilwaco to Shoalwater
bay is now from six to eight dollars
per ton. The railroad would expect
to carry it at from three to four dol
lars per ton; fare for passengers be-
tween the two points is now S1.25,
by the the railroad it would be re-
duced to from fifty cents to one dol
lar. But il the proposed freight bill
becomes law passenger fares would
be at the rate of four cents per mile,
and freights low in proportion. In
this case the most of the travel on
this road would be on the first two
or three miles from Ilwaco, so that
from eight to twelve cents would be
about the size of most of their pas
senger fares-a ridiculous sum, too
small FOR consideration. In this case,
as in many others the attempt to
place restrictions upon the long line,
which, perhaps. can stand 1t well
enough. would result in killing
many local enterprises, arresting
the development which is so
much needed at this time, and
removing burdens from one por-
tion of the country only to throw
them with crushing effect on other
portions. Astoria is interested in any
and every enterprise that has for its
object the facilitating of transporta-
ton through the country on the other
side of the river, as she has large
and growing trade with that section,
and consequently regrets the evident
disposition of the territorial legisla-
ture to enact law which would GER
tainly terminate the present effort to
secure cheap and rapid transporta-
tion from nwaco to Shoalwater bay.
1t is to be hoped that some modIfica-
ton at any rate may be secured. so
that those who have all the railroad
they want will not prevent our Pacific
county friends and others from hav-
ing what railroad they need.